保羅──基督的工人
歌羅西書一章24至29節
24現在我為你們受苦，倒覺歡樂；並且為基督的身體，就是為教會，要在我肉身上補滿基督患難的缺欠。
25我照神為你們所賜我的職分作了教會的執事，要把神的道理傳得全備，
26這道理就是歷世歷代所隱藏的奧祕；但如今向他的聖徒顯明了。
27神願意叫他們知道，這奧祕在外邦人中有何等豐盛的榮耀，就是基督在你們心裡成了有榮耀的盼望。
28我們傳揚他，是用諸般的智慧，勸戒各人，教導各人，要把各人在基督裡完完全全的引到神面前。
29我也為此勞苦，照著他在我裏面運用的大能盡心竭力。
信息分享
保羅擁有一顆真正的牧者之心(24節)。他先去建立教會和植堂，然後便竭盡一生去餵養和扶持它成長。第27節讓我們看見他一切工作背後的祕訣──就是倚靠基督和住在他心中的聖靈。
第24節是甚麼意思？難道保羅要付出救贖教會的部分代價？有些人確實有此想法，於是便藉著苦害己身，希望在神的面前賺取某些功德。然而，讓我們真正了解它的解釋：
基督的死已經為我們的罪完全付清了贖價。然而，在建立教會的過程中，教會若要被建立起來，成為榮耀基督的教會，卻需要有人願意去事奉、去禱告，甚至去受苦。
保羅願意為教會付出這代價。我們可以在哥林多後書十一章23至33節，看到他為福音和教會所受的苦。他最大的心願，是希望信徒和教會能在基督裡成長，或是用他的說法：「基督的形體在你們裡面居住」。
今天的情況也是一樣。倘若有人想帶領某間教會或信徒群體在基督裡成長，那麼，他就必須願意去勞苦工作、忍受苦楚、禱告、傳揚、教誨和督責。我們是否願意作基督的工人，這樣去服侍教會呢？
保羅在本章的最後那句話，對我們有莫大的提醒。正如上面已經提過，他的最大心願，是要引領每個他遇見的人去認識基督、追隨基督。願我們都能夠效法他的心志，盡心竭力地為神工作。
禱告：
主啊，求你幫助我在你裡面成長，同時更懂得扶持別人在你裡面成長。
PAUL, WORKMAN FOR CHRIST
Colossians 1:24-29
24 I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church,
25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God,
26 the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints.
27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
28 Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.
29 To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.
Message
Paul had the heart of a true pastor (v. 24). He first established or planted a church, then he cared for it for the rest of his life (his follow-up ministry). The secret behind all his work is shown in verse 27-the indwelling Christ and his Holy Spirit. See also verse 29.
What does verse 24 mean? Did Paul pay part of the cost of the redemption of the Church? Some people think so and try to make us earn merit with God through suffering. Let us look at this again:
Christ's death was the complete payment for our redemption. However in the building up of the Church, there must be someone who is prepared to work, to pray, to suffer perhaps, if that Church is to amount to anything worthwhile.
This is what Paul was willing for. You can read the list of the things which he went through in 2 Corinthians 11:23-33. Much of this was for the sake of the gospel. Much of it was also on behalf of the churches which he had founded and the individuals whom he brought to Christ. His great desire was that they might grow in Christ or to use his phrase 'that Christ might be formed in them'.
Even today it is the same. If a church or a group of believers is to be brought into being and grow, someone must be willing to toil and suffer, to pray, to preach, to warn and to study.
Are we willing for that kind of service for Christ? Are we?
Paul's final words in this chapter are tremendous. As we have said, his one great desire was to see everyone he met (notice that) come to a knowledge of Christ and go on with Christ. Read these verses if you can in J. B. Phillips' translation of the New Testament. It is a great challenge just to read them through.
A PRA YER: Lord help me to not only grow in Christ but to be willing for anything so that others might also grow in him.